One by one, blurry shapes began to leap from the trees, alarming the guards and putting them in complete disarray. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the creatures that appeared. They were similar to wolves, but they were much larger and they stood on their hind legs. Their fangs were bigger than knives, the points glinting underneath the morning sun.
Their fur ranged from grey to black, eyes glowing red like blood. The creatures were behaving erratically, snouts sniffing off and about in random directions. Their claws slashed and slashed at the air, aiming at nothing in particular.
"Werewolves!" shouted the general. He turned to Rasvien, who looked as shocked as everyone else. "Werewolves?! Why are they here? I thought I sensed a barrier protecting your headquarters!"
"There is! Or there was, at least." Rasvien lifted his shoulder, as if he was unfazed by the unexpected presence of the werewolves. He unsheathed his double swords that were hanging on his back. "You must forgive me, General, but I am as clueless on this predicament as you are."
The royal guards had long since gotten into their fighting stances. Many of their swords illuminated in different colors, wielded by those who were magic users. Spell circles bloomed on the ground, summoned by those who specialized in casting.
"Clueless? What do you mean by clueless?!" the general told Rasvien. "You are the watcher of these beasts! And yet you do not know why a whole goddess-damned pack of werewolves have broken through your protective barrier?!"
Rasvien twisted his blades, readying himself. "If I were you, General of Orion, I would set my attention on the monsters before me instead of whining. Look, your soldiers are going to get eaten if you keep asking me questions I don't have answers to."
Galen's general opened his mouth, but eventually clamped it shut. He listened to Rasvien, focusing now on the werewolves that had stopped acting weird. Their red gazes fixed on the royal guards, growling as they pounced closer and closer.
And then, chaos ensued. The beasts tore through the ranks of the royal guards, their claws ringing a sharp pitch as they slid against the metal of the swords. Fire blazed, wind currents blew, water whipped, ice grew—magic erupted all over the clearing. Magical energy whizzed through the air, electric and dense with mana.
Eury appeared, her hair like autumn bouncing on her shoulders as she joined the fray. She was using a spear, thrusting it to cut cleanly on the werewolves' flesh. Her moves were lethal, and I was unable to catch up.
A minute passed, and just as the werewolves were about to gain the upper hand, all the other mercenaries came in to assist the Orionian soldiers. They were efficient in their work, looking very much like they were used to handling situations like this one.
But I couldn't see Rasvien anywhere.
The door of the dining hall opened, and my soul nearly left my body when I heard the frantic footsteps.
I twisted around, only to see that it was Rasvien. "You scared the hell out of me."
His dark eyes glinted, one edge of his lip curling upward. "My pleasure."
Lira grabbed my wrist, her jaw set with determination. "It's time to go."
I blinked at her. "W-what? There are werewolves on a rampage outside!"
"She's right, if there's a perfect moment to escape those guards, then it's now," Ashton said. His gaze then slid to Rasvien. "That's why you're here instead of fighting with the others, aren't you, Captain?"
Rasvien sheathed one of his swords at the scabbard on his back. "Correct. And I must ask you quite the same thing. Why are you idling here, Ashton, and not helping your comrades out there?"
Ashton chuckled awkwardly, abashed as his hand flew to his nape. "Someone's got to look after the girlies."
"Well, you're dismissed. Go and help our friends, I'll be taking care of the girlies from here on out," Rasvien said, his eyes completely on me.
"Got it," said Ashton, at the same time conjuring a sword from thin air. It was as if he took it out from a pocket of space that only he knew was there.
Ashton hopped off the window, giving us a mock salute as he said, "Bye, girlies. Be careful! It was nice meeting 'ya!"
And that knowing smile he gave me told me that he would be keeping my secret to himself.
"I don't know why the royal guards are looking for you, but I assume you badly don't want to go with them," Rasvien said.
I steeled myself, taking in a deep breath. "That is correct. Will you help me leave the forest unharmed?"
He flashed a grin, and that almost made my breathing falter. "Why do I feel like I don't have a choice when it comes to you?"
"Stop being delusional," Lira interjected, "less talking, more moving."
Rasvien whistled. "You're too cranky for your age, Lirajane."
"I did not allow you to use my name so familiarly, Captain," said Lira.
"All right, whatever," Rasvien looked at me and offered his hand. "Let's go?"
My hand moved on its own, rising to accept his. But Lira managed to snatch my wrist and dragged me out the dining hall before I made a complete embarrassment of myself. To think of holding hands with a stranger, I must have lost my mind!
I heard a slight chuckle from Rasvien as he followed us through the door, his sword at the ready. It might be inappropriate to think that I was becoming too aware of his presence behind me.
Rasvien took the lead, taking us to the back of the base. The whole time, he made sure to remain a few inches beside me at most.
"Careful not to trip, Rosie," he said, his tone clearly teasing.
"I am not so delicate as you think I am, Captain," I said, annoyed that I was annoyed.
He laughed, and I was starting to hate his laugh because of its effect on me. "Oh please, I'd rather you call me Ras."